Textured wallpaper

Textured wallpaper gives a wall something to touch as well as something to look at. Weave, relief or fiber catches raking light, so the same wall reads differently at breakfast and after dark, and it forgives the small flaws in drywall that a flat paper shows.

What makes textured wallpaper different

The texture comes from how the wallcovering is built. Woven papers and natural fibers such as grasscloth, sisal and jute carry the irregularity of the plant itself. Fabric-backed designs in linen and silk feel soft and warm under the hand. Embossed vinyl and printed relief give a crisper pattern that stands up to daily wear.

Textured wallpaper room by room

A living room takes a fine linen or paperweave as a backdrop for art and furniture. Behind a bed, a soft textile surface makes the room feel calmer; for real echo control there is acoustic wallcovering. Hallways, mudrooms and stairwells need something that survives bags and shoulders, which is where a scrubbable vinyl with relief earns its place. For one statement wall, 3D wallpaper casts a different shadow from every angle.

The houses behind our textured wallpaper

Elitis is known for raffia, leather-look and woven finishes, and the Elitis range is one of the deepest in this collection. Vescom makes hard-wearing textiles for offices and hotels that work at home too: see Vescom. Phillip Jeffries, Texam and Casamance add natural weaves, and Pierre Frey brings French pattern on textured grounds.

Ordering textured wallpaper in the US

Texture does not survive a screen, so order samples first and hold them at an angle near a window. Natural fibers vary from roll to roll; that variation is part of the look, and it is why the full quantity should come from one batch. Width and pattern repeat differ per collection, so check them on each design before you measure. Orders to the United States arrive with duties and fees paid, so nothing is due on delivery.

Caring for textured wallpaper

Natural fibers, silk and linen want a soft brush or a vacuum with a brush head, never a wet cloth. Vinyl relief is the exception: a damp sponge takes off fingerprints and scuffs, which is why it is the usual pick for busy family spaces.